“Over the long term, it not only helps the college, but it helps our local communities.”Īs of fall 2019, 33.61% of LSCS students who reside within Tomball and Magnolia ISD boundaries attended the Montgomery and University Park campuses, LSCS data shows, both of which will offer bachelor’s programs. “When you get people trained at this level, it helps the economy because they make money they buy houses and cars they vote and all the reasons you want an educated public,” Head said. About $300 million of the system’s $485 million bond referendum voters approved in 2014 is going to workforce facilities, Head said, such as the LSC-Westway Park Technology Center, which opened in January 2019 and houses the cybersecurity program. Head said no new facilities were needed to offer the programs this fall, and the system has set aside money the last several years to accommodate the programs, although an exact amount could not be provided. “Earning an affordable degree through Lone Star will allow to keep their talents and their foundation here to help grow our community into the future,” said Anita Hebert, Magnolia ISD’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, in a statement. Students residing within LSCS’ service area taking 12 credit hours in 2019-20 would pay $862 in tuition and fees per semester, according to LSCS information, while tuition and fees at public universities-such as Sam Houston State University, University of Houston and Texas A&M University-each cost at least $4,200 per semester, according to information from the universities. “The tuition is the same as it is for the community college, which means that you’ll be able to get a four-year degree for less than $20,000,” Head said. We’re trying to fill a niche that hasn’t been met, so I think in the long term what’s going to happen is we’re going to help keep people here ,” Head said. “You hear a lot companies that there’s a shortage of skilled labor. To bolster in-demand workforce programs, Senate Bill 2118, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2017, authorized community colleges to offer up to three bachelor’s degrees in applied science, applied technology and nursing upon approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, according to the bill summary.

LSC-North Harris at FM 1960 and I-45 will also offer the management program. 242 in The Woodlands, will house the inaugural transition program from registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in nursing, according to LSCS information.Ī third bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity will be offered at the LSC-Westway Park Technology Center near Beltway 8 and Hwy. 249 and Louetta Road, will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in energy, manufacturing and trades management. Two Lone Star College System campuses located near Tomball and Magnolia will offer the system’s first bachelor’s degrees this fall, a process that began more than 15 years ago to afford students low-cost, four-year degrees close to home, LSCS Chancellor Stephen Head said.

Loanstar campus